QUALITY OF LIFE
WELL-BEING
PERSONAL GROWTH
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JULY/AUGUST 2011
! E E FR
Ne ed THE POWER OF CLARITY
? e m i more me t FINDING YOUR OPTIMAL CAREER
5 LIFE CHANGING IDEAS
JULY/AUGUST 2011
CONTENTS
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COVER STORY NEED MORE ME TIME? If you think that by putting yourself at the end of your priority list you are leading a selfless and happy life, it’s time you realised that your world begins and ends with you.
FEATURE THE POWER OF CLARITY If you want to live your life fully, set clear goals for yourself, visualize them, and fill your mind with ideas and enthusiasm.
GET INSPIRED
5 LIFE CHANGING IDEAS FROM HAPPINESS RESEARCH
ALL ABOUT HEALTH
ANCIENT WISDOM MEETS MODERN SCIENCE
FRESH START
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26
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THE ELEMENTS OF CHANGE
CAREER CORNER
FINDING YOUR OPTIMAL CAREER
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2 3 4 6 8 36
IN EVERY ISSUE EDITOR’S LETTER MAILBOX QUESTION OF THE MONTH THOUGHTS ON LIFE NEWS FEATURE ENJOY GUIDE
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EDITOR’S LETTER A publication of Anima Publishing Limited Hong Kong 2/F., Dah Sing Life Building 99-105 Des Voeux Road Central Hong Kong T: (852) 2325 0287 F: (852) 2287 5002 E: info@animamag.com
Anima is a magazine that promotes well-being and per-
sonal growth. In this issue, our Cover Story (page 12) raises the question, “Need more me time?” Spending quality time with oneself is what we call “me time”. People in Hong Kong lead busy lives and many of us tend to fill up all our time. Burnout is a common problem. As our writer stated, “We are relentlessly surrounded by people at work, home, malls, and pubs, and wherever we go except the bathroom!” Maybe we need some quiet time every now and then to recharge ourselves, and see where life is taking us. We can be “Alone but not lonely”. Our writer talked to an expert who gave us sound advice. Read the article for some quick tips. Our Career Corner (page 33) tells you how you can find your optimal career. Ask yourself questions to get the right answer. We all have our own talents. Put your talents to use and serve the community. Once in a while, we would need to be reminded to set goals for ourselves. Our feature article reminds us that it is important to set clear goals. And the set goals would need to be goals that would fill you with energy. Know what you want. Then, you can get what you want. Our All About Health column (page 26) tells you more about Chinese medicine, and how it can help you achieve good health. If you have questions related to health, career and relationships, feel free to send your questions to editorial@animamag.com. Our experts would be happy to answer your questions in the Question of the Month column. Lastly, get a free online subscription or a print subscription and you will receive our complimentary gift (page 21). Don’t forget to join our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AnimaMag) and Twitter page (www.twitter.com/AnimaMagazine). Have a good day!
LAM CHI FAI Publisher and Editor-in-Chief www.animamag.com www.facebook.com/AnimaMag www.twitter.com/AnimaMagazine
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PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lam Chi Fai info@animamag.com EDITOR Eunice Wong eunice@animamag.com ART DIRECTOR John Agra john@animamag.com SUB EDITOR Beulah Rose CONTRIBUTORS Leo Babauta, Neha Ghosh, Bong Miquiabas, Manisha Monga, Charles Sipe, Natalie Tong, Soma Vajpayee, Daniel Wood PRINTER Fantasy Printing Limited 7/F., Tin Fung Industrial Mansion 63 Wong Chuk Hang Road Hong Kong ADVERTISING advertise@animamag.com EDITORIAL editorial@animamag.com
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MAILBOX
Dear Editor, There is a column in your magazine named “Get Inspired” and I would like to say that I really got inspired by your magazine. It has variety and depth in terms in terms of the contents and it addresses issues related to the well-being of every one of us. I especially enjoyed reading your article 'Walk On'. The notion that walking refreshes one's mind reminded me of the days when I would spend time walking in the evenings after dinner. It gave me a break from the mental work I had during the day. It does serve as a nice reminder for me to resume this non-demanding but effective 'sport' again. Also, I read the article that told us about Thich Nhat Hanh's 'walking mediation'. The article discussed the power of the 'mindful walking' and that it 'releases one's sorrow and worries and helps bring peace to one's mind and body'. I could relate to this. I also liked the symbol of 'walking' as a cleansing tool as we can 'walk away' from our unhappy experiences, both mentally and physically. Thank you for sharing such stories, and I look foward to reading more stories in your magazine. CATHERINE YAU “I got a free copy of this at Uncle Russ Coffee at Star Ferry Terminal and I truly love your articles! Too bad I was just visiting HK and I would not be able to have another copy. Still, good luck and God WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
bless with your endeavors of improving quality of life, well-being, and personal growth!" FRANZ CARLA Dear Editor, I read your article on hobbies. It reminded me that I used to love playing the guitar. I have been so overloaded with work these few years, and I have decided to pick up my long-lost hobby again. I think I need to find a guitar teacher and make time for this. Otherwise, I will postpone this for another year. Time flies, you know. JAKE If you have something to say or share, please send your e-mail to editorial@animamag.com. JULY/AUGUST 2011
QUESTION OF THE MONTH How can we connect to our family members if they are not those expressive types, and don't often share their thoughts and feelings? CATHERINE YAU
Natalie Tong is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the US and a Registered Psychologist (HKPS) in Hong Kong. She offers psychotherapy, consultation and training in her private practice. She is also an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong where she teaches and supervises counselors in training. Her email is ntlmft@yahoo.com.
Dear Catherine, It can be a difficult if not a frustrating experience to try and emotionally connect with our closed ones who are unresponsive. Truly this takes a lot of patience and love. There can be many different reasons why our own family members don’t share their thoughts and feelings with us. First, we have to find out if they do share their thoughts and feelings with other people. If they do, then it can perhaps tell us that they do have the capacity to be emotionally expressive but somehow the nature of your relationship with them, they don’t get expressive. If the person you are referring to is an adolescent and you are the parent, it can be a natural developmental milestone in which teenagers need to psychologically leave their parents and establish their identity to become mature individuals, which explains why they become more emotionally attached to their friends than to their parents. If this family member does share his/her feelings with other people, the second step is to find out if every other family member also does not share their feelings with you. If so, there might be a possibility that somehow this family member does not feel emotionally safe enough to confide his/her feelings with you. It might be useful to pay attention to your own communication style to see if it makes it difficult for your family to express their feelings to you. A third step to consider is to find out if everyone in the family also share the same thinking as you do, which is this family member is simply not emotionally expressive. If this person is unexpressive to everyone in his/her life, it might have something to do with his or her emotion regulation style, though it is hard to draw any definitive conclusions given the information available. Generally speaking, people tend to share more of their private thoughts and feelings when they feel emotionally safe with another person. If they find the other person to be genuinely understanding instead of judgmental, or if they feel that their feelings are being validated instead of being challenged, then they tend to share more. Responses that go along with the person’s own ideas and feelings help the person to feel safe. The key is not to give any responses that make the person feel rejected or loose face. NATALIE TONG, LMFT, REG. PSYCHOL. Do you have a question on health and well-being? Please send your questions to editorial@animamag.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
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APRIL 2011
MUSIC, THE SOUL FOOD
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THOUGHTS ON LIFE
“Simple is the best,” a hair stylist said.
“The most beautiful thing in the world is, precisely, the conjunction of learning and inspiration. Oh, the passion for research and the joy of discovery!” WANDA LANDOWSKA (A POLISH HARPSICHORDIST AND THE FIRST PERSON TO RECORD BACH’S GOLDBERG VARIATIONS ON THE HARPSICHORD, 1879-1959)”
“I can very well do without God both in my life and in my painting, but I cannot, suffering as I am, do without something which is greater than I am, which is my life, the power to create.”
“BETTER DIE THAN LIVE MECHANICALLY A LIFE THAT IS A REPETITION OF REPETITIONS.” D. H. LAWRENCE (NOVELIST, 1885-1930)
VINCENT VAN GOGH
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“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” CHINESE PROVERBS
“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
“IT IS A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER TO HAVE COMMON SENSE WITHOUT EDUCATION THAN TO HAVE EDUCATION WITHOUT COMMON SENSE.” ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL (AMERICAN STATESMAN AND ORATOR, 1833-1899)
PABLO PICASSO
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ALBERT EINSTEIN
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NEWS FEATURE RARE TUMOUR’S ‘FINGERPRINT’ USED TO DEVELOP CHEAP AND RELIABLE NEW TEST UK - Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a cheap and reliable diagnostic test for a rare form of cancer. The test involves screening tumor samples for a particular molecular fingerprint unique to this cancer. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) is a disorder that causes the development of benign but often painful tumors in the skin and, in females, in the uterus. Between one in six and one in ten people affected by the disorder will go on to develop an
Overweight Increases the Risk of Low Back Pain in Adolescents HONG KONG - Low back pain affects every population worldwide, and is a leading cause of ill-health and sick leave in the working population of Hong Kong. One of the major causes of low back pain is degeneration of the joints of the spine, known as the intervertebral discs. The Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology at The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine has found that disc degeneration is not just a condition that develops in the elderly, but also occurs in adolescents. Importantly, being overweight in adolescence triples the likelihood of having disc degeneration and developing more severe forms of the condition than if one was of normal weight. Overweight and obesity are pandemic conditions, currently on the rise in Hong Kong and in particular in children and adolescents. Preventive measures should start early on in life and should involve establishing a healthy diet and physical activity habits. Enjoyment and parental participation are contributing factors for physical activity participation and long-term adherence. Leading by example and becoming an active parent increases the likelihood that the children will engage in physical activity. When making activity choices for children, it is important to choose an activity that is fun and enjoyable. The Institute of Human Performance (IHP) of the University of Hong suggest that children and adolescents who are already overweight or are suffering from obesity-related illnesses may be limited in the amount and intensity of activity participation they can tolerate, so one should begin with low-intensity physical activities such as walking. Activity-enhanced video games that involve significant player effort is an active alternative that seems to be particularly enjoyable. These provide mostly low to moderate intensity physical activity and are a great place to start becoming physically active.
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aggressive form of kidney cancer called papillary renal cell cancer. The condition often strikes people in their 20s. Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "We know that diagnosing cancer at an earlier stage offers the best chances of successful treatment. So being able to identify other family members who are at risk so they can be monitored more closely is crucial to improving survival rates from this rare aggressive form of kidney cancer.” WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
V & A International V & A International is a risk mitigation consultancy specialized in corporate investigation and business intelligence, serving both local and multi-national corporations. We aim to provide quality business and litigation support services to our clients with personal attention to their needs. We have a global network of professionals in different fields, including security, investigation and information technology, to serve our clients the best we can.
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NEWS FEATURE Many countries hit by health threats from both infectious and chronic diseases GENEVA - Many countries still struggle to reduce maternal and child deaths caused by infectious diseases, according to the World Health Statistics 2011 released by the WHO in May. Noncommunicable diseases such heart diseases, stroke, diabetes and cancer, now make up two-thirds of all deaths globally, due to the population aging and the spread of risk factors associated with globalization and urbanization. The control of risk factors such as tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and excessive use of alcohol becomes more critical. The latest WHO figures showed that about 4 out of 10 men and 1 in 11 women are using tobacco and about 1 in 8 adults is obese. In addition many developing countries continue to battle health issues such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria that are most likely to kill children under the age of five. In 2009, 40% of all child deaths were among newborns (aged 28 days or less). The report also shows that more money is being spent on health and people can expect to live longer (life expectancy in 2009 was 68 years, up from 64 years in 1990); but the gap in health spending between low- and high-income countries remains very large. World Health Statistics 2011 is an annual report based on more than 100 health indicators reported by WHO's 193 Member States and other reliable sources.
PROLONGED BREASTFEEDING MAY BE CONNECTED TO FEWER CHILD BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS UK - Breastfeeding for four months or more is associated with fewer behavioral problems in children at age 5, an Oxford University study suggests. The findings, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, add to the evidence base on the benefits of breastfeeding. “Our results provide even more evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding,” says Maria Quigley of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University, who led the work with Katriina Heikkilä. “Mothers who want to breastfeed should be given all the support they need. Many women struggle to
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breastfeed for as long as they might otherwise like, and many don’t receive the support that might make a difference.” There are a number of well-known health benefits of breastfeeding: for example, breastfed babies have lower rates of infections and mothers have a reduced risk of breast cancer. A range of other health and child development benefits have also been suggested – such as higher IQ, fewer behavioral problems and lower levels of obesity – but the evidence for these can be inconsistent across different studies. It is possible to suggest possible causes for the relationship
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between breastfeeding and reduced likelihood of problem behavior. It may be that there is something in the breast milk that leads to improved neurological development and behavioral learning in children. Or the close physical contact during breastfeeding may lead to more mother-baby interaction and better communication. WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
NEED MORE ME TIME? If you think that by putting yourself at the end of your priority list you are leading a selfless and happy life, it’s time you realised that your world begins and ends with you. BY MANISHA MONGA AND NEHA GHOSH
Very often after a hard day at work, we let out that exhaustive breath and promise ourselves to spend some quality time doing what we like best. However, the day usually ends with a mindless hour in front of the television and shifting in bed thinking about the next day’s ordeal.
ALONE, NOT LONELY Being alone does not necessarily signify that one is lonely. But this is a common assumption that we undermine the moment we see somebody alone in a restaurant, movie theatre etc. We are relentlessly surrounded by people at work, home, malls, and pubs and wherever we go except the bathroom! In this mesh, we fear being alone and spending time pursuing that unrequited passion or giving ourselves the joy of reviewing our thoughts to see where life is taking us. We constantly want to be occupied with people or work to remain far away from looking within ourselves and taking care of mental and physical requirements. Such is our great determination to achieve success in the future that we are ready to forget the present and sacrifice all forms of happiness that our heart desires to keep rising in life. And by chance if we happen to waste a day doing nothing at home or spend half a day at the gym or spa, we are filled with guilt for pampering ourselves when the whole world is working so hard. The simple pleasures of life are forgotten amidst the run for some uncertain final destination. Due to the ever increasing competition; the need to work more and earn more is never fulfilled.
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STRESS; THE SLOW POISON Whether you are housewives, working women, professionals, all of us are so busy with our day-to-day activities. With all the things we do and the limited time, burnout is a common problem. “The level of stress is increasing day-by-day and the grave thing is that it is not increasing in the age group of 40’s and 50’s but it is increasing in teenagers,” says Dr Sanjay Chug, neuro-psychiatrist, who conducts stress management workshops amongst students and working people in Mumbai. Talking about the consequences of stress, Dr. Chug says that as a psychiatrist he has been dealing with stress in a lot of different forms. “Stress eats away at our coping ability, adjustment skills, and resilience. We ruin existing successful relationships with family and friends because inevitably we pour out pent-up frustration on our loved ones. As a consequence, our social support base tends to get minimized which complicates the existing problems. Stress also aggravates or worsens any existing problems,” adds Dr. Chug. And one of the reasons for stress according to him is not having enough time for oneself. We get so carried away with the things happening around us that we forget to stay centred within ourselves. We behave as if we exist for the situations, events or people around us and not vice versa. You can’t always regulate overload at work, but you can increase your tolerance for it by taking care of yourself. If you feel out of control, undervalued, and too busy, or if you always put others’ needs before your own, it’s time to find some time and space to recharge yourself.
IT’S TIME FOR ‘ME’ In psychological term, it means spending ‘personal quality time’ so spending quality time with oneself is what we call ‘me time’. Dr Chug warns us that spending time with ourselves doesn't just mean sitting all alone and doing nothing. It means bringing our focus on to ourselves and connecting with ourselves. A well-known psychiatrist from Institute of Medical Hospital, Singapore says that ‘me time’ is basically to communicate well with oneself. It can be anything like dancing, drawing, photography, or even watching your favourite movie. The idea of having ‘me time’ is that you do something that gives you happiness and a sense of satisfaction. You are the centre of your world; your universe. Your connection with the self is the anchor in your life. If we lose that connection, it can throw us off balance because our decisions are not substantiated with our innermost beliefs and thoughts. It is essential to have ‘me time’ so that we can keep this connection alive and strengthen it. It is about knowing yourselves, having a good relationship with yourselves and being your own support system. It will make you more resilient from the adverse effects of the multiple day
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to day stressors. People find taking out ‘me time’ difficult, because they either feel guilty or believe it’s selfish. We tend to view taking care of ourselves as a luxury. In fact, taking time for oneself is anything but selfish. Personal time is also important because it reminds you that you're not your work. If you dash ceaselessly from one task to the next without doing anything you personally enjoy, life ceases to be rewarding and becomes a dreary struggle. Shift your focus to something totally different even if it is for a very short time, and you’ll renew your energy and focus.
IGNITE YOUR INNER MUSE So how do you plan to achieve that precious time? It doesn’t have to happen at someone else’s expense. Here are a few easy-to-do tips that will aid the process of re-inventing yourself. ° Plan carefully and schedule an entire day or evening just for you. Tell everyone you're unavailable. ° Even brief breaks, 15 minutes or so, are worthwhile if you do something that brings you joy. It’s not how much time you take for yourself, but how frequently and consistently you take that time. Consider your motivations and values. Determine what you really want to do. ‘Me time’ will be just a chore until you explore your own ideas to find something that truly renews you. For example you can do some stretch up exercises, grab a novel or catch up on the latest magazines, get creative like write, knit, draw, take photographs. ° Visit a spa; enjoy a leisurely bath at home; find a nearby salon and get manicure/pedicure done. ° If you can't remember the last time you saw a movie, now's your chance. ° Put on the headphones, kick back and relax to your favourite music for a while. ° Resist the urge to be productive during your ‘me time’. Don't spend it ironing clothes or bringing groceries. Your well-being is of a higher priority. This ‘me time’ affects you in long run. It will enable you to find yourselves to be much more stable human being, not overly dependent on people or activities, calm and rested, not getting anxious or restless over the most trivial issues, leading a much more content and fulfilling life. As a consequence, we will turn into much more pleasant human beings who will inspire people. Manisha Monga studied Applied Psychology and completed a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She currently works for one of the top publishing houses in Singapore. During her spare time, she writes on various topics related to human behavior. Neha Ghosh has been working as a writer/editor for the last six years. Besides politics and sports, she has written on every genre possible. Her happiest times are when she is travelling to a new place and writing. WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
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THE POWER If you want to live your life fully, set clear goals for yourself, visualize them, and fill your mind with ideas and enthusiasm. BY DANIEL WOOD
OF CLARITY WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
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If you are going to get what you want, you first
need to know what it is. When you are trying to complete a tough goal, a goal that will change your life if you complete it, you have to be creative, you will need to think outside of the box and try things you never have before. If you are going to reach that level of creativity you need to know exactly what you want and what you need to accomplish in order to get it. I never had any success before I sat down and clearly stated my goals. For years, I tried and failed at things that I now can do with ease. Once I started clearly setting my goals, things started moving faster and faster. What really changed things for me was when I learned the method for setting goals, a method that activates the subconscious mind and gets your subconscious computer working on your problems 24 hours a day. Start with these 6 steps to clearly see your goals.
1. Write down your goals for each major area of your life: financial, career, family, health. It is important to have a balance in life. Success in one area doesn’t excuse failure in another. Balance is important if you are going to be happy with your life and no success is more important than happiness.
2. Set measurable goals for yourself. The subconscious mind listens to everything you tell it. If you tell it you are making 100 000 USD every year, it will start finding ways to make it true. That is why it is important that you make it measurable. The subconscious mind will not react to “I want to make more money” because that can mean anything. You need a firm target, one that you can visualize. Your subconscious mind understands pictures better than words, so feed it with pictures.
3. Write it in the positive present tense, as if you had already completed the goal. For example “I make more than 100 000 USD every year.” If you tell your subconscious mind that you have already completed a goal, it believes you. If you tell it you want something it believes you, but it doesn’t do anything about it. When your subconscious mind believes that you have already make 100 000 USD each year, it would be forced to make it a reality.
4. Add deadlines to your goals. Parkinson’s Law states that every task will fill the time allotted to it. This means that if you do not set a deadline and if you have infinite time to complete the task, it would take a long time to complete it.
5. Listen to your heart. When you think about these goals, how do you feel? Do you feel motivated? Do you
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want to start working on your goals at once? Are you filled with ideas, plans and enthusiasm? Or do you feel stressed, anxious, and uncomfortable? Maybe you don’t feel a thing when you think about your goals? If you do not feel motivated when thinking about your goal, it is either because you do not believe in it or because you do not really want to complete it. Believing and wanting the goal is the most important part of goal setting. It is what drives you to excel. If you do not feel passionate about this goal, go back and set a new one, one that fills you with energy. To complete a worthwhile goal, you would need all the energy and motivation you can get. Setting a demotivating goal is a recipe for failure.
6. Read and visualize your goals every day. Fill them with positive emotions. What really activates the subconscious mind is pictures and emotions. Every day, close your eyes and see yourself in possession of your goal. See how your life will be when you have completed your goals. Feel the sense of fulfillment and the happiness you will feel when you have completed it.
THE LAW OF ATTRACTION The Law of Attraction states that everything in the uniWWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
in the universe and it can either be a great ally or your greatest enemy. What is great is that it doesn’t take anything more than positivity and clarity to activate it.
THE MIND SENDS OUT SIGNALS Every thought you have has a measurable frequency, especially your emotions. These are easy to track. If you are happy, angry, positive, negative, each of these emotions have a measurable frequency. This is sent out to the world and this can be picked up by other people around you. By thinking positive thoughts, you will be happier and more relaxed, which will annoy negative people, causing them to avoid you. At the same time, you will attract other positive people which will make you even happier.
BELIEVING AND WANTING THE GOAL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF GOAL SETTING. IT IS WHAT DRIVES YOU TO EXCEL. IF YOU DO NOT FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS GOAL, GO BACK AND SET A NEW ONE, ONE THAT FILLS YOU WITH ENERGY. verse attracts each other. If you send out signals that you are happy, events and things that will make you happy will be drawn into your world and keep you happy. If you send out signals of anger, you will find reasons to stay angry. When you see your goals clearly, you start to send out signals that it is obvious that you will complete your goals, that you are confident and that you are happy. This will attract people and situations that will enable you to accomplish your goals. The Law of Attraction is one of the most powerful forces WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
MAKE YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL TO BE HAPPY I am not saying that you need to monitor every thought you have. Everyone is negative and angry sometimes. But if you make having your own happiness your ultimate goal, you will automatically start sending out positive emotions and attract situations that will keep you happy. This starts a positive cycle of happiness. Remember no one else can control your mood, if you don’t let them. You are responsible for your own happiness. It isn’t egoistic to have your happiness as your ultimate goal. You cannot give away what you do not possess. If you aren’t happy you can’t make other happy. If you are positive and happy, you will spread enthusiasm around you to others, making them happier as well.
HAPPINESS MAKES EVERYTHING EASY Your other goals will line up if you can keep the sense of positivity and the tempo of enthusiasm in everything you do. You will have the energy to do what is required for your success; you will have the will to go after your goals and the passion to think outside the box and come up with solutions to “impossible” problems. You can complete any goal that you believe in. Using this method, you can complete anything you put your mind to as long as you believe that it is possible. The only thing that sets limits is you. If you believe a goal is possible, it will be. See it in front of you, write it down in clear positive language, fill the image with positive emotion and be happy. You cannot fail! Daniel M. Wood is a motivational speaker and coach. He shares his advice freely on his website http://lookingtobusiness.com. JULY/AUGUST 2011
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CENTRAL Al’s Diner A Mother’s Touch Anahata Yoga Atria Properties Bit Point Body Talks System CancerLink CoCo Espresso Downtown Chiropractic Clinic Euro Treat Goccia Ristorante Health Gate Helena May Indulgence JAR (Just-A-Restaurant) Just Salad Kinesiology Asia La Dolce Vita 97 La Fontaine Optimum Performance Studio Pangea- Wing Chun Kung Fu and Pilates Pickled Pelican Post 97 Shakti Healing Circle Stormies Subway
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Sutherland Chan Centre The American Club The Dublin Jack The Elgin (Service Apartment) The Feel Good Factor The Wheel Treasure View Service Apartments Uncle Eric’s Vintage Wine Bar Uncle Russ Coffee Vitality Center Yogurtime
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WANCHAI Al Dente Alliance Francaise Hong Kong American Women’s Association Amici Coyote Bar & Grill Ebeneezer’s Kebabs & Pizzeria Fat Angelo’s Flying Pan JoJo’s Indian Cuisine Khana Khazana Let’s Spa Mes Amis Natalie Tong Private Practice Center Oyster Bar & Grill Pizza Express The Australian Association The Quarterdeck Club Wanchai District Women’s Association Yogurtime Zambra Cafe LAI KING WAN (SOHO EAST) Berliner + Wildfire Jack’s Terrazza Ristorante Pure Massage Te
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DISCOVERY BAY Caramba Mexican Cantina Hemingway’s By the Bay McSorley’s Ale House StratMark Management Consulting Uncle Russ Coffee Yogurtime
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Poets Sai Kung Animal Hospital Sai Kung Physiotherapy Sauce Shun Kee City Houseware Company Steamers Sushi TEN KU The Boozer White Black Caffe Ltd. GOLD COAST, TUEN MUN Chilli N Spice Seafood Market Le Bristol French Restaurant Med Stars (Mediterranean Cuisine) Resto Restaurant ELEMENTS / TSIM SHA TSUI Bombay dreams Bliss Spa, W Hotel El Pomposo Bar & Tapas Grand Central Bar & Grill Joia Ristorante Italiano Mes Amis Stormies
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GET INSPIRED
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LIFE CHANGING IDEAS FROM HAPPINESS RESEARCH
Understand the findings on positive psychology and live the good life BY CHARLES SIPE
What is a greater priority in your life: happiness or success?
While it is possible to achieve both, we often sacrifice one for the other when making major life decisions such as what career to pursue, whether to move to the suburbs to afford a bigger house, or whether to attend a family event if it means getting less work done. The science of happiness, also known as positive psychology, basically studies human behavior and positive emotions with the aim of determining what factors can result in an increased
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GET INSPIRED
tion is for people who live in the conditions of poverty, in which money can help provide basic necessities like food, shelter, and transportation. Once people reach the middle class however, additional income tends to have little effect on happiness. This counterintutive finding can be explained by our ability to quickly adapt to new conditions, also known as “the adaptation principle”. While winning the lottery may provide an immediate boost in happiness, studies suggest that lottery winners return to a level close to their baseline happiness in about one year. We’ve all heard stories of the miserable millionaire or the unhappy but successful professional. This finding suggests that it can be a big mistake to pursue a career primarily to gain a higher salary over a career that you intrinsically enjoy.
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level of happiness. The conclusions from this research can provide interesting insights into how we can maximize our happiness. The following concepts are featured in the book Happiness Hypothesis, which is a great book for learning about the findings from happiness research.
THE PROGRESS PRINCIPLE Pursuing worthwhile goals is often a major aspect of how we choose to spend our time. People can spend years pursuing a specific goal while imagining how happy they will be once their goal has been achieved. However, “the progress principle” suggests that we receive more happiness from making progress toward our goal than we do from achieving a goal. This can be explained by our brain’s reward system which provides a boost in dopamine immediately after we make progress towards a goal in order to encourage behavior that leads to genetically favorable outcomes like accumulating wealth or power. This supports the old adage that the journey is more important than the destination or as Shakespeare said: “Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing”. If you are not enjoying the journey, you may not be pursuing the best goal.
DOES INCREASED INCOME IMPROVE HAPPINESS? Research that examines the correlation between income and happiness has found that increased income has a very small correlation with happiness for most people. The excep-
REDUCING YOUR COMMUTE The American Dream has traditionally involved getting a good job at a corporation so that you can buy a nice house in the suburbs. However, the adaptation principle comes into play as we quickly adapt to having a larger
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FINDING WHAT ACTIVITIES LEAD TO A STATE OF FLOW FOR YOU, SUCH AS PLAYING A SPORT OR WRITING A GUEST BLOG POST, AND ALLOCATING MORE TIME TO THESE ACTIVITIES CAN LEAD TO A MORE ENJOYABLE CAREER AND LIFE. home but we typically don’t adapt to a traffic filled and unpredictable commute. People who experience slow traffic arrive to work with higher stress hormones in their blood and commuting to work is often reported as one of the most unpleasant activities in our day. Choosing to live closer to your work, even if you have to buy a smaller home, can be a wise decision in terms of maximizing your happiness.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS One of the strongest variables in happiness that we can control is our personal relationships. An increased quantity and quality of personal connections can have a significant impact on our happiness. This is one reason that people who attend church are happier on average than non-church goers and married people are happier on average than single people. Spending more time with your close family or friends rather than working extra hours can also lead to a happier life. Additionally, your income can provide a more positive impact on happiness if you choose to spend it on experiences that you share with family and friends such as a dinner at a restaurant or a vacation instead of buying luxury items like expensive cars or accessories.
FINDING FLOW Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi coined the name “flow” for the idea of engaging so deeply in an activity that you lose track of time. The Happiness Hypothesis describes flow as the “state of total immersion in a task that is challenging yet closely matched to one’s abilities. It is what some people call ‘being in the zone’”. Finding what activities lead to a state of flow for you, such as playing a sport or writing a guest blog post, and allocating more time to these activities can lead to a more enjoyable career and life. WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
Happiness research may not provide the secret to achieving happiness but it can suggest ways in which we can potentially increase it. The conclusions are often based on the “average person” so these ideas may not work for everyone. However, understanding the findings from happiness research and experimenting in your own life can help you determine what will ultimately lead to “the good life” for you. What do you think about these ideas? Please share your experience with us and send your e-mails to editorial@animamag.com. Charles Sipe enjoys listening to audiobooks, blogging and playing basketball. He is also the editor of Criminal Justice Degree Schools, a resource site providing information on criminal justice degrees and careers. This article first appeared on the website pickthebrain.com, and it is reprinted with permission. JULY/AUGUST 2011
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ALL ABOUT HEALTH
ANCIENT WISDOM MEETS MODERN SCIENCE
Anima explores why Chinese medicine has attracted more followers in recent years. BY BONG MIQUIABAS
Like many people in Hong Kong, Erica
Chan likes to get away from the rat race now and then by going on a hike. But after one hike on an outlying island in 2002 she felt pain and weakness in her right knee. The condition didn’t stop her daily routine, but it didn’t disappear even one month later. Reluctant to take drugs because of their possible side effects, Chan decided to visit a practitioner of Chinese medicine.
A WAY TO HEAL “I wanted to try an alternative,” recalls Chan, an upbeat 20-something financial consultant. “I had heard a lot of stories about Chinese medicine that aroused my curiosity and added confidence.” From
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her first visit, she was impressed that the practitioner looked beyond the hike and asked general questions about what she typically ate, how much sleep she was getting, and what the major stresses were in her life. Within weeks of following the practitioner’s prescription of herbal remedies, Chan’s knee pain vanished. She was able to raise and bend her knee as before. Nine years later, neither the pain nor the weakness has returned. And Chan became a firm believer in Chinese medicine. She is hardly alone. In recent years, Chinese medicine has steadily gained popularity among people of diverse backgrounds to address an ever-expanding list of ailments. The Singapore-based company Eu Yan Sang, a publicly-listed producer of Chinese medicines, this year reported a 43 percent surge in its
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ALL ABOUT HEALTH
profits compared to one year ago. The company, founded in 1879 with operations across Asia, credited “a growing acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine as a way to maintain good health” for its results.
GAINING ACCEPTANCE Long preferred by elderly Asians suffering chronic pain or digestive issues, Chinese medicine is now more broadly accepted than ever before. Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, director of the clinical division at the Hong Kong Baptist University’s School of Chinese Medicine, has witnessed the major change in attitude firsthand. When Bian left Mainland China in 2001 to help establish Baptist’s clinical division, he only had one colleague, an administrative clerk. Today, Bian oversees 11 clinics that employ 138 staff members. “In the last 10 years, more and more young people and highly educated people have sought Chinese medicine,” says Bian, whose research focuses on gastro-intestinal issues. “This is because government has invested a lot of effort in higher education, which has helped public confidence.” Practitioners have also benefited, he says, from the adoption of scientific standards in Chinese medicine research that generate “more hard evidence to show that the field is not just based on classical wisdom.” Traditional Chinese medicine
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OPINIONS ARE CHANGING VERY FAST. TRADITIONAL WISDOM IS STILL VERY CLEVER. IF WE CAN COMBINE THAT WITH SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, IT’S EVEN BETTER
originates from the principle of yin and yang and identifies five elements (wood, water, metal, earth and fire) interacting with the body that must exist harmoniously despite each containing different qualities. As a result, Chinese medicine practitioners promote holis-
tic treatment to achieve good health. Whatever the ailment, they examine a patient’s entire diet and lifestyle, offering remedies – herbal soups, massage therapy, acupuncture – that are physically less disruptive than drugs. That said, Bian acknowledges the benefits of Western drugs and protocols in certain circumstances. “Western medicine is very effective and quick, especially in emergencies, but much of the time, the patient’s problems are long-term, like cancer treatment after chemotherapy,” he explains. “Patients might suffer severe side effects, and Chinese medicine can help. In conventional Western medicine, cancer treatment may be considered finished after chemotherapy.”
COMFORT FOR CANCER PATIENTS Cancer patients receiving conventional Western medicine treatment may WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
experience vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, sleep disorder, and immune system damage. Bian, who still sees patients weekly, observes that Chinese medicine can provide comfort for cancer patients who struggle to tolerate chemotherapy. He says remedies often stay effective longer than Western drugs. At Baptist, more than 20 percent of patients present cancer-related ailments. These patients make up the school’s single largest category. The next largest are patients battling organ-related problems, also known as functional diseases. Mental disorders such as depression and movement disorders such as those related to stroke round out the top ailments treated at the clinics. Other frequently presented ailments include chronic pain and the common cold. Bian says Chinese medicine patients normally fall into three categories along a spectrum of skepticism: those who seek Chinese medicine as WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
the primary treatment for their health, those who seek it to supplement their Western medicine treatment, and those who don’t believe in it. He thinks the numbers in the last group are shrinking. As quality controls keep tightening on herbal remedy ingredients, public confidence has strengthened.
HIGHER EDUCATION Throughout the 3,000-year history of Chinese medicine, its practitioners have almost all been trained in the Mainland. That is no longer the case. Chinese medicine practitioners can study their field in higher education programs like the one established at Baptist. The Hong Kong school offers a five-year double bachelor’s degree in Chinese medicine and biomedical science. Bian estimates that 65 percent of Baptist’s course concentrates on Chinese medicine with the rest spent on Western medicine.
Bian says some students initially ask why they need to study Western medicine when they will only be licensed to practise Chinese medicine. He tells such students that practitioners should be well-versed for the sake of their patients. “You cannot say, ‘I’m a Chinese medicine doctor only,’” he says. “The patients provide you with a report from Western medicine, so [clinicians] should know what happens to the patients in other care. This can help with diagnosis and treatment.” Apart from their classes, students enrolled in the program at Baptist enter a 12-month practicum in a Western medicine hospital setting. Currently, they train only in outpatient services, but Bian sees more cooperation between Western and Chinese medicine authorities. “Integration is a trend,” he says. “We let students understand both traditions.”
LOOKING FORWARD Looking ahead, closer collaborations between Western and Chinese medicine practitioners will be more widespread. In fact, Bian receives inquiries every week from Western physicians asking about treatment options. “Opinions are changing very fast,” he says. “Traditional wisdom is still very clever. If we can combine that with scientific evidence, it’s even better.” Bong Miquiabas is a freelance writer based in Hong Kong. JULY/AUGUST 2011
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FRESH START
ELEMENTS OF CHANGE Change is inevitable but for many the point is how long one can sustain it. BY LEO BABAUTA Change can be a difficult thing. Most people want to change their
lives, in some way, but find it difficult to either get started or to sustain the change for long. I’m happy to report that after years of studying it, I’ve become fairly good at it (though happily failing all the time). I actually relish change, not because I feel I need to improve my life, but because in change, I learn new things. Constantly. What have I learned from my changes? I could write a book on this (and probably will someday), but the essence can be found in the space between the inevitable fact of change, and in the incredible resistance to change inside ourselves and in the people around us. We want to change, and yet we
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don’t. How do we resolve this tension? It can be incredibly difficult, or it can be wonderfully joyous. I’m here to show you the elements on this joyous path to change. The difficult path… I think we can each easily find that on our own.
MY RECENT CHANGES I’ve made dozens of changes over the last few years, but here’s a short list of a few I’ve made just this year: ° Lost over 40 lbs since last year. I’ve not cared as much about losing weight — it’s just a number — but more about losing some fat and WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
getting fit. The weight loss has really been a side effect of that focus. I’ve tried a lot of different methods, but I’ve found that only two things matter and they’re ridiculously obvious: cut back on calories and increase the calories you burn through activity. Finding ways to do those two things has been the fun part.
° Gave up our car and walked, biked or used public transit everywhere. I’ve slowly been reducing the use of a car, and I have increased biking and walking. Then we made a drastic change just a few weeks ago when we sold our van, moved to San Francisco, and have been car-free ever since.
° Began walking more. Obviously this goes with being car-free, but even when we had our van I would walk for an hour or three on many days, just for the simple pleasure of it.
° Eat foods with no or little packaging. From bulk bins or farmer’s market, with reusable containers, if possible. I strive for fresh fruits and a variety of veggies, plus beans and nuts and whole grains and seeds. None of this needs packaging; all of this is great for you.
and connecting with others, but it can really eat up your life if you let it.
° Focused more on being in the moment.
° Gave up almost all of my possessions. I was slowly whittling away
° Stopped setting goals and planning meticulously. I used to
at my possessions, then took a huge leap when we sold or gave away almost everything and moved to San Francisco. We’ve bought some furniture (mostly used) but haven’t come anywhere near the (modest) amount of possessions we had before.
be a rigid planner and goal setter, just a couple years ago. You can see it in my old posts here on Zen Habits. I’ve dropped that habit, mostly.
° Started working less. A task needs to meet a high threshold of importance for me to consider doing it these days. This means I work fewer hours but am more effective during those hours.
° Drastically reduced the time I spend online. I love online reading, WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
° Instead, embraced going with the flow. Again, this is a short list — there are others that are less noteworthy, and probably a few I’m forgetting.
THE ELEMENTS OF CHANGE So what’s the joyous path to making these changes and others? I’ve broken it down into six elements, many of which overlap and have very blurred
lines. They’re useful, though, in considering how to make potential changes in your life.
1. Beating inertia. We all have inertia — that resistance to change, especially major changes that disrupts our living patterns or way of thinking. Sometimes it’s not difficult to overcome — we can get excited to make a big change and want to overhaul a certain part of our lives. The joyous path, though, is in the middle ground between no change and drastic change. It’s in small changes — as small as possible. Small changes mean it’s not hard to get started, but also that the change is sustainable. If you make a drastic change, there is a great likelihood that it won’t stick very long. If you’re feeling that inertia, set out to make as tiny a change as you can — just get out and walk for 5 minutes, or start writing or painting or playing your violin for 5 minutes. You can do JULY/AUGUST 2011
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FRESH START abs yet (after a month of exercise!) or we’re not a full-time blogger yet (after three months of blogging!). But we forget how far we’ve come. Every step along the path is a victory, not because we’ve accomplished a goal but simply because we made the step. Celebrate those steps — jump up and down in joy, scream Hallelujah, brag about it on Facebook, post a victorious message in bold marker on your fridge. You rock.
6. Making it a part of your life.
anything for 5 minutes — it should seem ridiculously easy, but that’s the point.
2. Beating the resistance of others. This resistance can be even tougher to beat than your own inertia — very often people in our lives do not want change. They’ll be negative, or even actively try to stop us from changing. There are various strategies for beating this: ask for their help and get them on your side, or negotiate a way for you to make change without disrupting their lives too much, or if necessary, cut them out of your life for a little bit.
3. Finding the joy. Here is the key to it all. Forget the rest of these steps if you need to, but never forget this one. Doing something you hate is possible, for a little while, but you’ll never sustain it. If you hate running, you’ll never keep up the habit for long. You need to find the joy in doing the activity, and
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when you do so, you’re golden. So either choose an activity that you love, or find something to love in the activity, and grab on to that.
4. Keeping the joy alive. Joy can be fleeting, and to keep it going, you need to nurture it. This is an art form, and I can’t give you step-by-step instructions here. If I could, I’d be a billionaire, as it would change the world. But some advice: be grateful for your joy, every day. Be in the moment with that activity, instead of having your mind drift elsewhere. Refresh your joy often, by starting over or approaching things from a new angle or doing something a bit differently. Find new people to share this joy with, people who love it as much as you.
5. Celebrating the little victories. We often get discouraged because we’re not as far along as we’d like: we don’t have those six-pack
Whether a change stays with you forever or not, making a change has value, in the momentary joy you get from doing it, and in what you learn from it. But making a change stick can be a great thing. To integrate change into your life, it must become a part of your daily routine. If you want to meditate, you need to do it at a regular time: right after having your coffee and before showering for work, for example. Having the coffee becomes your trigger for this new habit, and as the coffee is already integrated into your life, it becomes an anchor upon which this new habit will be grounded. The more times you do the new habit after this trigger, and the more regularly you do it, the more firmly it will stick.
AND LASTLY One last note, to anyone making changes: you will fail. I don’t say that to discourage you, but to release you from the fear of failure… because if you already know it will happen, then there’s no pressure to avoid it. Failure is an inevitable part of change, and in fact it should be celebrated — without failure, we’d learn nothing. Fail, fail often, and learn. Then you’ll be better equipped for the next attempt. Find joy in every attempt, in every victory, in every failure, and the change will be a reward in itself. This article was written by Leo Babauta and it is reprinted with permission. The article first appeared on the website http://zenhabits.net. WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
CAREER CORNER
FINDING YOUR OPTIMAL CAREER Whether you are in the midst of a
career or starting to look for a career in Hong Kong, what are some of the critical questions you can ask yourself? One of the key flavors of this great city is the influx of people across nationalities and cultures. This inflow also means that the city needs to “open doors” for families and spouses to settle in smoothly. There is a significant segment of spouses who form support groups for each other in making this transition comfortable. Even as their partners settle into the career transition that brought them to Hong Kong, these spouses are also very talented, educated and sensitive people in their own right who are already contributing to the society in various ways. If you are a person in search of “your optimal career” after a break, for whatever the reason this break may have been – young children, maternity, change of place, illness − some of the questions below could help you take positive steps towards “your calling”. Consider Amy, a Korean American, who moved to Hong Kong with her American husband from the Philippines where they had lived for three years after six years in New York. She gave up her job in the US and took a break while in the Philippines. However, when she moved to Hong Kong, she thought of engaging herself fruitfully. Her constraint was that she wanted to do it part-time. Also, she was unsure about the length of stay in Hong Kong. The first step is: “To identify the optimal career solution”. Here the word “career” has not been used in the traditional sense but is more about finding your “worthwhile engagement” to put your talents and experiences to use so that your available time is spent in the most enjoyable way. WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
To put your talents and experiences to use, you would need to make an effort to find your “worthwhile engagement” so that your time is spent in the most enjoyable way. BY SOMA VAJPAYEE
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CAREER CORNER Here are some of the questions that can help Amy find her path towards her goals.
° What are some of the career options that you have in mind? ° What are the aspects that are important to you while considering your career options? (e.g. remuneration, travel commitments, time for learning, time for family/ children, work environment, flexibility at work) ° Would you consider both paying and voluntary jobs? ° How motivated do you feel to “get out there” to actively seek your optimal career?
° Have you considered the option of “sharpening your saw”- going back to a school and learning a new skill/new language? ° Is there a passion or a hobby that you always wanted to pursue? How about “picking up the threads” and do a fresh start in pursuing your hobby or passion? With the assistance of her career coach, Amy went through a process of soul searching and found that she had a passion for teaching. Once you have some idea about what it is that you would like to explore, the next question is: How do you find your optimal career? We asked Amy the following questions.
° What are your known resources and networks that you can tap into to find more information?
° How can you use social media to your benefit in finding out more information and useful contacts? ° What are some of the secondary information and sources available in print and on the internet? 34
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THIS ALSO MEANS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO “KNOCK” AT SOMEONE’S DOOR MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE AND NOT LOSE HOPE EASILY.
° What do you think are the eligibility criteria for the job? Do you possess them already? If you have to develop them – where can you learn the skills and knowledge and what is the timeframe for it? ° What is the investment required in the learning process and how long it would take to recover it (once you get the job)? ° What are some of the formal networking platforms that are available in Hong Kong for startWWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
ing the search and spreading the word? ° What are the documents and referrals that you need to update and tailor to aid your search? (e.g resume, visiting card) ° How can you prepare for upcoming interviews? Do you know competent people who can “role play” interview situations to fine tune your preparations? Once Amy was certain about what she wanted to pursue, she asked her friends and contacts to find out about the charitable institutes that are looking for “teachers” or “facilitators”. One of her strongest networks was at her church and some of the leads were very helpful. After following through a couple of leads, she eventually joined as a part-timer in a well-known charity group. It is a reality that everyone is inundated with print and internet information so we need to be sharp and focused when we seek information or assistance from people. This also means that we may have to “knock” at someone’s door more than once or twice and not lose hope easily. The more focused we are with our questions, the easier it is to find answers and find what we are looking for. So, it is useful to introspect and get assistance from close friends and competent career coaches to help you with this process of discovery, so that you are energized and resourceful at all steps. In Hong Kong, it works to approach people through networks than rely on websites or agencies alone to find your “optimal career”. So get out there, meet people and tell them what your goal is and the chances are that you will reach your goal faster than if you leave the process to a third party! Once you have found your optimal career, the next step is to strive for continued success after you have started the journey. So, what are some of the key WWW.ANIMAMAG.COM
questions that can be explored early?
° What are the most important milestones to reach in the first few weeks? ° What is your vision in the role? ° How do you build your credibility with your team, clients and the people you interact with in your new role? ° How do you know who the key influencers are? How do you deal with the “difficult people”? ° How do you resolve conflicts and face them elegantly? ° What is your working style in tackling day-to-day operational work?
° How do you avoid the usual pitfalls of working with groups? No matter which stage of your career you are in, these lists of questions could help you increase your self-awareness and provide you with support as you progress. Pursuing a successful and fulfilling career is not rocket science, but you would more likely find your optimal career with the help of a career coach. From a learning and development expert to a career coach, Soma Vajpayee had a career transition when she moved to Hong Kong in 2010. Today, Soma works mostly with expatriates and their spouses to help them develop a career that is more than a job. Soma’s e-mail address is soma.vajpayee@progressu.com. For more information, please go to the website: http://www.progressu.com/solutions/ career-coaching.php.
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ENJOY GUIDE
BODYTALK ACCESS SEMINARS FOR CHILDREN WITH ANGIE TOURANI Date: Tuesday July 12th, 2011 Time: 3pm – 6pm Venue: Om Yoga Address: Suite 2001, 20/F, Car Po Commercial Bldg, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central Date: Monday July 18th, 2011 Time: 3pm – 6pm Venue: Discovery Bay
July/ August
2011
Cost: $1000 (Group discount price $800 for 2 or more registering together). Email: angie@bodytalksystem.com.hk Tel: (852) 6683 5755 Website: www.bodytalksystem.com.hk Looking for a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free solution to improve your family’s health? BodyTalk Hong Kong is running Access Seminars for children this July. Children aged 10-18 will learn simple techniques to allow them to look after many of their own health needs: • Strengthen the immune system against viruses, bacteria, parasites, allergies and intolerances • Enhance focus and memory • Improve sleep and relaxation • Respond to small emergencies situations by learning ‘fast aid’ • Reduce sports stress and anxiety • Strengthen posture, alignment and overall health The next Adult seminar will take place on 16th July at Om Yoga from 2-7pm.
If your organization has any upcoming events and you would like to invite our readers to participate, please send your information to editorial@ animamag.com.
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BABY & TODDLER REFLEX Date of next course: Wednesday July 6th, 13th & 20th Venue: Room 202, 18-20 Wyndham Street, Central Time: 10 - 11 (Babies) & 11.30am - 12.30pm (Toddlers) Tel: (852) 9521 2347 Email: info@amotherstouch.com.hk Cost: 900 HKD for 3 x 1 hr sessions Website: www.amotherstouch.com.hk Baby & Toddler Reflex is a gentle form of reflexology suitable for children aged from one month to three years. Helping parents soothe their babies, improve sleep patterns, and enhance the natural bond between them, this form of finger-tip and thumb pressure has been especially created for parents to give to their babies on their feet, and to toddlers on their hands.
AROMATHERAPY CERTIFICATE COURSE (LEVEL I) WITH ASIA-PACIFIC AROMATHERAPY Date: 19 July to 26 August, 2011 (Tuesday & Friday) Time: 7:00pm to 10:00pm Venue: Room 1001, 10/F, Java Commercial Centre, 128 Java Road, North Point (North Point MTR Exit A1) Cost: $3,900 Language: English Tel: (852)28822444 Email: info@apagroup.com.hk Website: www.aromatherapyapa.com The certificate course (Level I & II) is formulated for those who have an interest in aromatherapy and would like to go slightly deeper into the subject to appreciate better the therapeutic use of essential oils.
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SURF N’ YOGA BEACH CLEANUP Date: Saturday, July l6 Activity: Beach Cleanup followed by surfing and yoga Organiser: The Karma Collective Email: tingting@sukhasamui.com for details. Website: www.sukhasamui.com The Karma Collective is about creating positive changes and elevating community consciousness through action, participation, and collaboration throughout Hong Kong and Asia.
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SHAKTI HEALING CIRCLE MARTYN AND HEATHER CHILVERS NUTRITIONISTS AND HAIR ANALYSIS THERAPISTS INTRODUCTORY TALK ON HAIR ANALYSIS Date: Tuesday 5 July Time: 7 - 8.30 pm Cost: FREE Website: www.shaktihealingcircle.com Martyn and Heather have specialised in treating ASD children and adults since 2001. In the past two years alone they have seen over 2,000 ASD children in Thailand (where they live), Malaysia and Singapore.
ADAM HIGGS HEALER AND PSYCHIC Date: 19- 30 July Adam uses a wide choice of healing techniques in his healing sessions, such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Touch for Health Kinesiology, and Bach Flower Remedies. Other healing modalities that he uses frequently are Trigger Point Therapy, Tuning Forks and Chakra Realignment. He has a particular strength in helping with back problems.
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CAPRA LATTE X BETTER LIVING EXPO 2011 Date: Jul 22-24, 2011 (Fri-Sun) Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong Opening hours: 11am-7pm Admission: Open to public Capra Latte booth area: Hall 6 (Please call us if you are lost. Our staff will escort you from the entrance) Tel: 852-53000548 Email: info@capralatte.com Website: www.capralatte.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/love.capra. latte HKTDC’s official website: www.hktdc.com Capra Latte is a natural and organic body care company which offers natural and organic body care products in Hong Kong. Better Living Expo is an exciting new exhibition promoting different aspects of lifestyle, beauty and health products and services. Join the 3-day event for some fresh made and delicious soap!
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JOIN US! We are looking for experienced and responsible individuals to be members of our team. MARKETING EXECUTIVE (FULL-TIME / PART-TIME) Responsibilities: • Explore and develop advertising opportunities with new clients through telephone sales or visits • Handle existing clients and maintain strong relationship with them to drive advertising sales growth • Provide customer sales service to advertisers • Provide support on daily administration work • To assist in ad hoc assignments Requirements: • Diploma graduate, preferably in Business Administration, Economics, Communication or related disciplines • Experience in media sales or account servicing, preferably gained in advertising or publishing industry
We are a publishing company with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. We publish the magazine, Anima, which is dedicated to promoting quality of life, well-being, and personal growth. We also assist our custom publishing clients to produce high quality publications with custom-made editorial contents and visually engaging designs in both print and digital formats.
• Knowledge and past experience in social media marketing is preferred • Independent, hardworking, presentable and result-oriented • Good communication skills • Proficiency in both written and spoken English and Chinese GRAPHIC DESIGNER (FREELANCE) You will be responsible for the design work of our custom publications by using typography and graphics. To qualify you must possess: • Higher Diploma in Graphic Design • 2-3 years’ experience in print publication and brochure design • Strong knowledge and skills in using graphic design software such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator • Creative mind with attention to details
provided will be treated in strict confidence and will only be used for recruitment purposes. Please contact us and send your full resume via email: hr@animamag. com Want to submit an article and get it published? We welcome article submissions from experts and professionals on topics that promote quality of life, well-being and personal growth. If you are interested, please send your article proposal or the draft version of your article to editorial@animamag.com.
We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Information
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YOUR AD... ANIMA ADVERTISING
Please call (852) 2325 0287 or send your e-mail to advertise@animamag.com.
Anima Publishing Limited 2/F, Dah Sing Life Building, 99-105 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
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